I do wonder though, how this falls into LNT. I mean if the 14ers.com community jumps all over people for leaving things, what about taking things? Now I know that I have collected interesting rocks or items on hikes from all over the world, but I also like LNT. Hmm....well anyway, I'd love to see the rings when complete. I think it will be very cool. Good luck with the wedding, maybe a summit?

I agree and congrats. This is a very cool idea. Please post photos when the rings are done. Wish I could give you ideas for where to go but I'm not sure. Snowmass has fabulous rock but winter access would be tricky. Good luck!

If you are not insisting that your stone come from a summit, consider the boulder field in the amphitheatre on the route to Pyramid. This area has the most interesting and diverse collection of rocks that I've seen on any 14er. Just pondering how all these different rocks ended up in one place stirs a sense of wonder. The boulder field is around 12,000 ft, the biggest boulders are in the center, but the most interesting rocks are toward the edges of the field.

That's a good point, and one we considered as well. However, our justification is that the production of diamonds requires heavy disturbance to the land to remove and, while on private land, definitely violates LNT. We feel that in comparison to the mining involved in removing diamonds combined with some touchy political and humanitarian reasons, this decision would actually be lower impact.

That's a good point, and one we considered as well. However, our justification is that the production of diamonds requires heavy disturbance to the land to remove and, while on private land, definitely violates LNT. We feel that in comparison to the mining involved in removing diamonds combined with some touchy political and humanitarian reasons, this decision would actually be lower impact.

It's been a few years, but I seem to remember Shavano of having some very white rock on the final stretch up the summit mound.

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat." (Theodore Roosevelt)

"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit." (Edward Abbey)

I am not sure about expedition approach, but it would be a long one. You're basically looking at 10 miles to Needleton from Purgatory, about 2.5 miles along the Animas, then another 5 miles up Noname Basin to the peak. I wouldn't even attempt it in the dead of winter, but perhaps in early November if the snow has been minimal so far.